Glory to Ukraine. Host of Readers Corner, KBSX, Boise. Former Boise State President. Idaho Statesman Columnist.
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Articles by Bob Kustra
"Redemption" - Part 1by Lawrence Wright
In the fall of 2014, Deacon Ronnie Lastovica visited a women’s prison in Gatesville, Texas and gave communion to the women on death row. Moved by the meeting, the Deacon vowed to return weekly, but he knew he couldn’t help these women alone. He called upon the Sisters of Mary Morning Star, a group of contemplative nuns in Waco, Texas, to visit the seven condemned women with him.
Commentary: The time for keeping beluga whales captive for our entertainment has passed
Editor’s Note: Since this column was written, another transferred beluga died on Oct. 7. BY Bob Kustra and Jenny Kustra-Quinn kAm%96 EC28:4 562E9D @7 7@FC 36=F82 H92=6D 2E r9:428@’D $9655 pBF2C:F>[ E9C66 @7 H9:49 H6C6 EC2?D76CC65 2D C6D4F6D 7C@> r2?252’D |2C:?6=2?5 2?5 @?6 E92E H2D 2 =@?8E:>6 C6D:56?E[ 42== 2EE6?E:@? E@ E96 :?;FDE:46 2?5 DF776C:?8 E96D6 :?E6==:86?E[ D@4:2= 2?:>2=D 7246 H96? E2<6?
The Talking Bone by Rene Denfeld
From the revered bestselling author, a compulsive, page-turning thriller inspired by her real life work exonerating innocents, a novel that asks how far we'll go in our pursuit of the truth--an emotionally rich, luminously written book about evil and people trying to do good in the world. Ruby Spencer is known as "the exonerator." Her job as an investigator is to free innocent men from death row, and she's good at what she does.
Commentary: The time for keeping beluga whales captive for our entertainment has passed
The tragic deaths of four beluga whales at Chicago's Shedd Aquarium, three of which were transferred as rescues from Canada's Marineland and one that was a longtime resident, call attention to the injustice and suffering these intelligent, social animals face when taken from their natural homes and confined to small aquarium spaces. Beluga whales deserve better, and the time for imprisoning them for our entertainment or "education" has passed.
Bob Kustra and Jenny Kustra-Quinn: The time for keeping beluga whales captive for our entertainment has passed
Whales 4 hours ago Aquarium did best for whales stltoday.com • 4h Chicago's Shedd Aquarium surely hoped its dramatic rescue of 10 beluga whales from the widely despised and imminently liquidating Marineland of … Opinion & Analysis 1 day ago Letters: The Shedd Aquarium owes the public a full accounting of beluga deaths Chicago Tribune • 1d The editorial “The Shedd Aquarium did all it could to save the beluga whales” (Sept.
Private Power and the Decline Of Democracy: How to Maker Capitalism Support Democracy by Mordecai Kurz
In Private Power and Democracy’s Decline, Mordecai Kurz explores the relationship between free-market capitalism and democracy. He shows that technology has made capitalism different from what was envisioned in the Age of Enlightenment. Technology creates centers of market power and monopoly concentration that result in a society in which some people are enriched immensely while many workers’ livelihoods are often destroyed.
"Escape from Kabul: The Afghan Women Judges Who Fled the Taliban and Those They Left Behind," by Karen Bartlett
"Escape from Kabul: The Afghan Women Judges Who Fled the Taliban and Those They Left Behind," by Karen Bartlett Across 20 years of U.S.-backed government, Afghan women obtained legal degrees, became judges, and set out to transform their country—tackling corruption, challenging traditional gender norms, and reducing horrifying levels of violence against women and children.
The Return of the Oystercatcher: Saving Birds to Save the Planet by Scott Weidensau
The Return of the Oystercatcher: Saving Birds to Save the Planet by Scott Weidensaul As populations fall and once-great migration multitudes wither away, the future of birds may seem grim. But surprisingly, from gnatcatchers and waterfowl to select groups of forest songbirds, some bird populations are soaring. Habitats and species that once neared extinction are now multiplying around the world because bird conservation is making things better.
It’s different this time. A reflection on the 25th anniversary of 9/11 | Opinion
My wife, Kathy, and I were in New York City on Sept. 11, 2001. The memories and reflections fade a bit as years pass, but this year is different. The 25th anniversary of this horrific tragedy brought so much more media coverage, including the film CNN replayed Sunday night. Two French filmmakers were documenting the work of the firefighters in a New York City firehouse when the 9/11 attacks occurred.
It’s different this time. A reflection on the 25th anniversary of 9/11 | Opinion
My wife, Kathy, and I were in New York City on Sept. 11, 2001. The memories and reflections fade a bit as years pass, but this year is different. The 25th anniversary of this horrific tragedy brought so much more media coverage, including the film CNN replayed Sunday night. Two French filmmakers were documenting the work of the firefighters in a New York City firehouse when the 9/11 attacks occurred.
Encore: The Man Who Broke Capitalism: How Jack Welch Gutted the Heartland and Crushed the Soul of Corporate America―and How to Undo His Legacy by David Gelles
Encore (November 15, 2024): New York Times reporter and "Corner Office" columnist David Gelles reveals legendary GE CEO Jack Welch to be the root of all that's wrong with capitalism today and offers advice on how we might right those wrongs. In 1981, Jack Welch took over General Electric and quickly rose to fame as the first celebrity CEO. He golfed with presidents, mingled with movie stars, and was idolized for growing GE into the most valuable company in the world.
White Sox game shows Americans of all stripes can still come together | Opinion
Just when I thought you couldn’t mix religion with major league baseball, the White Sox proved otherwise recently at Rate Field, the team’s home on Chicago’s Southside. The result was a unique moment in major league baseball that has never been replicated in the history of the game. Since Pope Leo XIII was the object of the celebration, that is a very safe bet.
White Sox game shows Americans of all stripes can still come together | Opinion
White Sox game shows Americans of all stripes can still come together | Opinion Just when I thought you couldn't mix religion with major league baseball, the White Sox proved otherwise recently at Rate Field, the team's home on Chicago's Southside. The result was a unique moment in major league baseball that has never been replicated in the history of the game. Since Pope Leo XIII was the object of the celebration, that is a very safe bet.
"Korean Messiah: Kim Il Sung and the Christian Roots of North Korea's Personality Cult" by Jonathan Cheng
A landmark history of North Korea, told through the rise of the Kim dynasty and its surprising ties to American Christianity—a spectacular, penetrating account of the Hermit Kingdom • A Foreign Policy Most Anticipated Book of 2026. “How do personality cults take hold? What happens when leaders mix politics and faith to demand immense sacrifices? Jonathan Cheng’s magnificent tale poses questions about the world far beyond North Korea.
With Trump’s betrayals, the midterms are the time to take back America | Opinion
One of the mysteries of the last 10 years is how a controversial New York City developer managed to convince Republican primary voters to vote for him in the 2016 primaries over more qualified and respectable Republican candidates. This conman was outed just a month before the November election for who he really was by a video of his remarks bragging about how he could grab and assault women and pay no price for it. That should have been a barn-burning end to his candidacy.
"The Diversity Principle: The Story of a Transformative Idea," by David B. Oppenheimer
The diversity principle – the idea that people with different backgrounds, identities, and viewpoints produce better work – was a core tenet of the first modern research university and the inspiration for John Stuart Mill’s classic treatise, On Liberty. But as a war on diversity upends government, corporate, and education policies, the history of the idea of diversity has never been more important. In his latest book, The Diversity Principle: The Story of a Transformative Idea, David B.
"The Cypriot Mask" by Scott McIntosh
A priceless mask, a beautiful woman, a deadly secret, and a curse if it doesn’t fit. Philip Chandler, a small-town Idaho newspaper reporter and owner of the Fremont Herald, thought he landed a front-page scoop interviewing reclusive gun collector Ernest Hardy. Days later, Hardy is brutally murdered, and Chandler is pulled into a dangerous hunt. A beautiful, mysterious woman from L.A., a menacing operative, and a billionaire oil tycoon are closing in, all seeking one thing: the Cypriot death mask.
Commentary: What Ronald Reagan would do for people of Ukraine
If we want to consider what’s possible for Ukraine, the people of Poland are living proof. They gained freedom from communist rule at the end of the Cold War with President Ronald Reagan playing what he called a supporting role in bringing down the Soviet Union. A virulent anti-communist, Reagan found his way into the history books by telling Soviet Union President Mikhail Gorbachev to tear down the Berlin Wall.
Bob Kustra: What Ronald Reagan would do today for the people of Ukraine
If we want to consider what’s possible for Ukraine, the people of Poland are living proof. They gained freedom from communist rule at the end of the Cold War with President Ronald Reagan playing what he called a supporting role in bringing down the Soviet Union. A virulent anti-communist, Reagan found his way into the history books by telling Soviet Union President Mikhail Gorbachev to tear down the Berlin Wall.
"The Taiwan Tinderbox: The Island-Nation at the Center of the New Cold War" - J. Michael Cole
The Russian invasion of Ukraine in early 2022 shocked the modern world, destroying assumptions that large-scale conventional war was inconceivable in the 21st century. 5,000 miles away, democratic Taiwan faces the rising threat of a military takeover by China, a development that could further upend the global world order. In his latest book, The Taiwan Tinderbox: The Island-Nation at the Center of the New Cold War, renowned Taiwan expert and former intelligence officer J.
Kustra: What Ronald Reagan would do today for the people of Ukraine Original
If we want to consider what’s possible for Ukraine, the people of Poland are living proof. They gained freedom from communist rule at the end of the Cold War with President Ronald Reagan playing what he called a supporting role in bringing down the Soviet Union. A virulent anti-communist, Reagan found his way into the history books by telling Soviet Union President Mikhail Gorbachev to tear down the Berlin Wall.
Commentary: What Ronald Reagan would do today for the people of Ukraine
If we want to consider what's possible for Ukraine, the people of Poland are living proof. They gained freedom from communist rule at the end of the Cold War with President Ronald Reagan playing what he called a supporting role in bringing down the Soviet Union. A virulent anti-communist, Reagan found his way into the history books by telling Soviet Union President Mikhail Gorbachev to tear down the Berlin Wall.
What Ronald Reagan would do today for the people of Ukraine
If we want to consider what's possible for Ukraine, the people of Poland are living proof. They gained freedom from communist rule at the end of the Cold War with President Ronald Reagan playing what he called a supporting role in bringing down the Soviet Union. A virulent anti-communist, Reagan found his way into the history books by telling Soviet Union President Mikhail Gorbachev to tear down the Berlin Wall.
"Family of Spies: A World War II Story of Nazi Espionage, Betrayal, and the Secret History Behind Pearl Harbor" by Christine Kuehn
In her book, Family of Spies, journalist Christine Kuehn traces the secret history of her paternal grandparents, Otto and Friedel. A prominent Berlin family, the Kuehn’s saw the rise of the Nazis as a way out of the hard times that had befallen them. When the daughter of the family met Nazi leader Joseph Goebbels at a party, the two hit it off, and they had an affair. But Ruth had a secret—she was half Jewish—and Goebbels found out.
“Paper Girl” by Beth Macy
Urbana, Ohio, was not a utopia when our guest today grew up there in the ’70s and ’80s. But, despite her family’s poverty, Urbana had a healthy economy and thriving schools. Though she left for college on a Pell Grant and then a faraway career in journalism, she still clung gratefully to the place that had helped raise her.
“Your Presence is Mandatory” by Sasha Vasilyuk
On today’s program, Sasha Vasilyuk joins us to talk about her debut novel, Your Presence is Mandatory. The book takes place in Ukraine, 2007, and centers on Yefim Shulman, husband, grandfather and war veteran, beloved by his family and community. But in the days following his death, Yefim’s widow finds a letter to the KGB in his briefcase. She discovers Yefim had a lifelong secret, with his confession forcing his family to reassess the man they thought they knew.
"Justice For Animals" By Martha C. Nussbaum
Now Remains of the man, Joseph Louis Serrao, Jr., discovered in a remote area in Olympic National Park in 2000, were identified using forensic genealogy. On July 11, 2000, a researcher in a remote area of Olympic National Park in Washington State discovered a human skeleton inside a tent. Nearby were …
Republican extremists discovered the consequences of going too far | Opinion
When I look back on the Idaho Legislature I met up with in 2003 as the new president of Boise State University, it bears little resemblance to recent legislative assemblies overwhelmed by extremist Republicans who seem intent on attacking state government’s mission of providing for and protecting Idahoans. It was long before Donald Trump polluted the Republican Party and drove away many GOP members who believed in government staying out of people’s private lives.
Republican extremists discovered the consequences of going too far | Opinion
When I look back on the Idaho Legislature I met up with in 2003 as the new president of Boise State University, it bears little resemblance to recent legislative assemblies overwhelmed by extremist Republicans who seem intent on attacking state government's mission of providing for and protecting Idahoans. It was long before Donald Trump polluted the Republican Party and drove away many GOP members who believed in government staying out of people's private lives.
“No One’s Coming” by Kevin Hazzard
In July 2014, two American medical volunteers who joined the fight against the deadliest Ebola outbreak in world history were infected. The virus kills in just over a week and they were trapped in a hot zone with the clock ticking. In his latest book, No One’s Coming: The Rogue Heroes Our Government Turns to When There’s Nowhere Else to Turn, journalist Kevin Hazzard tells the thrilling true story of an international rescue operation, with selfless heroes on both sides of the Atlantic.
“The Age of Extraction” by Tim Wu
Our world is dominated by a handful of tech platforms. They provide great conveniences and entertainment, but also stand as some of the most effective instruments of wealth extraction ever invented, seizing immense amounts of money, data, and attention.
“The Gales of November” by John U. Bacon (Part II)
Note: This is the second of a two-part interview. In the three decades after World War II, the Great Lakes overtook Europe as the epicenter of global economic strength. The region was the beating heart of the world economy, and no ship represented this dominance better than the Edmund Fitzgerald – the biggest, most profitable ship on the Lakes.
Todd Achilles plays the new politics, and that’s why he can win | Opinion
President Donald Trump has changed the rules of the game, that is, the serious business of how candidates and officeholders treat each other and how much of what has heretofore been considered off limits in public statements but is now fair game for their speeches and public comments. Anyone who doesn’t think Trump has changed the nature of communication between office holders and constituents hasn’t been listening to Trump’s most unorthodox approach to addressing the American people.
“The Gales of November” by John U. Bacon (Part I)
Note: This is the first of a two-part interview. In the three decades after World War II, the Great Lakes overtook Europe as the epicenter of global economic strength. The region was the beating heart of the world economy, and no ship represented this dominance better than the Edmund Fitzgerald – the biggest, most profitable ship on the Lakes.
“Our Dear Friends in Moscow” by Andrei Soldatov
Our guest today is one of Russia’s top investigative journalists, working and living in exile. In his latest book, co-authored once again by his fellow investigative journalist, Irina Borogan, Our Dear Friends in Moscow follows a group of young Russians, part of an idealistic generation who came of age in Moscow at the end of the 20th century – the communist era had just imploded and an exciting and uncertain future lay ahead of them.
“Our Friends in Moscow” by Andrei Soldatov
Our guest today is one of Russia’s top investigative journalists, working and living in exile. In his latest book, co-authored once again by his fellow investigative journalist, Irina Borogan, Our Dear Friends in Moscow follows a group of young Russians, part of an idealistic generation who came of age in Moscow at the end of the 20th century – the communist era had just imploded and an exciting and uncertain future lay ahead of them.
"38 Londres Street” by Philippe Sands
On the evening of October 16, 1998, Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet was arrested at a medical clinic in London. This followed a 17-year reign of assassinations, disappearances, and torture—frequently tied to the infamous detention center at the heart of Santiago, Londres 38. Three decades earlier, on December 3, 1962, SS-Commander Walter Rauff was arrested in his home in Chile.
“The War Below” by Ernest Scheyder
To build electric vehicles, solar panels, cell phones, and millions of other devices means the world must dig more mines to extract lithium, copper, and other vital building blocks. But mines are deeply unpopular, even as they have a role to play in fighting climate change and powering crucial technologies.
Opportunities for Idaho adult learners are continuing to grow | Opinion Original
I was reminded recently of that adage often quoted by those who lament missed learning opportunities — “education is wasted on the young” — when I heard about a new opportunity thanks to the innovative spirit of Boise State English professor, Samantha Harvey, who is creating a “return to the college campus experience” for adult learners. It’s called Perennial College at NMH, and it makes up for what adult learners might have missed the first time around in their college days.
“Kings and Pawns” by Howard Bryant
On the cusp of a growing civil rights movement, Jackie Robinson and Paul Robeson would represent two poles of America, with forces within the US government demanding loyalty without equality in return.
COMMENTARY: Trump’s war on Iran masks his support of Putin
If there is a familiar refrain from the critics of President Donald Trump these days, it's about his foreign policy excursions overwhelming his administration and preventing him from focusing on the economy and other domestic challenges, which register his approval rating at around 40 percent. Some of his MAGA loyalists are now questioning their 2024 votes for the America First candidate who criticized past presidents for fighting wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Donald Trump’s war on Iran masks his support of Vladimir Putin
If there is a familiar refrain from critics of President Donald Trump these days, it’s about his foreign policy excursions overwhelming his administration and preventing him from focusing on the economy and other domestic challenges, which have his approval rating at around 40%. Some of his MAGA loyalists are now questioning their 2024 votes for the America First candidate who criticized past presidents for fighting wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Donald Trump's war on Iran masks his support of Vladimir Putin
If there is a familiar refrain from the critics of President Donald Trump these days, it's about his foreign policy excursions overwhelming his administration and preventing him from focusing on the economy and other domestic challenges, which register his approval rating at around 40%. Some of his MAGA loyalists are now questioning their 2024 votes for the America First candidate who criticized past presidents for fighting wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Commentary: Donald Trump's war on Iran masks his support of Vladimir Putin
If there is a familiar refrain from the critics of President Donald Trump these days, it's about his foreign policy excursions overwhelming his administration and preventing him from focusing on the economy and other domestic challenges, which register his approval rating at around 40%. Some of his MAGA loyalists are now questioning their 2024 votes for the America First candidate who criticized past presidents for fighting wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
As Idaho’s government slouches right, public wealth is being pillaged | Opinion Original
It’s been called the plunder of the commons when governments whittle away at the functions of government that serve and protect its citizens. It’s an interesting way to analyze the budget crisis Idaho faces this year. It’s what happens when the “public wealth” of the state — the revenue raised by taxation and user fees — is regularly cut from the state budget under the guise of tax relief. In case you missed it, Idaho’s public wealth is under siege.
“Metamorphosis” by Oren Harman
Today, biologists estimate a stunning three-quarters of all animal species on Earth undergo some form of metamorphosis. In his latest book, Metamorphosis: A Natural and Human History, Oren Harman digs into one nature’s oldest questions: why do so many creatures transform? Why must creatures go through massive destruction and remodeling to become who they are? Tracing a path from Aristotle to Darwin to cutting-edge science today, Harman explores that central mystery.
"Starry and Restless" by Julia Cooke
Our guest today shares the story of three women reporters and the way they altered the landscape of journalism and the world itself. In her latest book, Starry and Restless: Three Women Who Changed Work, Writing, and the World, Julia Cooke tells the fascinating story of Rebecca West, Mickey Hahn, and Martha Gellhorn. Often travelling alone, they sneaked onto the front lines when they were forbidden, interviewed civilians to gather local color.
“Wild Horse Country" by David Philipps
Note: this is an encore edition of Reader’s Corner. The episode originally aired in March 2018. From the moment we first laid eyes on them, Americans have been captivated by mustangs — with their strength, their determination and their wild nature. They have been featured in countless Western paperbacks, movies and songs through the years, and we’ve named war planes and muscle cars after them.
Pray for snow? There’s a lot more Idaho leaders should be praying for | Opinion
If House Majority Leader Jason Monks, R-Meridan, thinks a day of prayer on March 1 will fix America and Idaho in particular, he needs to get the reasons for the prayer straight. His resolution is a prayer for snow and rain, but he also attempts in the resolution to identify what he thinks is wrong with America by citing 14 different reasons why Idaho needs this prayer day.
“The Blue Horse” by Bruce Borgos
On today’s program, bestselling novelist Bruce Borgos talks with us about his thrilling new book, The Blue Horse. The novel follows Sheriff Porter Beck as he’s faced with a brutal and mysterious murder in Nevada, amidst a controversial roundup of wild horses. Suddenly, the convergence of state and federal agents, advocacy groups, a love interest, and a long list of suspects has Sheriff Beck backed into a corner.
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